Israel Demands a King

8 Now it came about, when Samuel was old, that ^(A)he appointed his sons as judges over Israel. ² The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in ^(B)Beersheba. ³ His sons, however, did not walk in his ways but turned aside after dishonest gain, and they ^(C)took bribes and perverted justice.

⁴ Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at ^(D)Ramah; ⁵ and they said to him, “Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now ^(E)appoint us a king to judge us like all the nations.” ⁶ But the matter was ^[a](F)displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” And ^(G)Samuel prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people regarding all that they say to you, because ^(H)they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. ⁸ Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you as well. ⁹ Now then, listen to their voice; ^(I)however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of ^(J)the ^[b]practice of the king who will reign over them.”

Warning concerning a King

¹⁰ So Samuel spoke all the words of the Lord to ^(K)the people who had asked him for a king. ¹¹ And he said, “^(L)This will be the ^[c]practice of the king who will reign over you: ^(M)he will take your sons and put them in his chariots for himself and among his horsemen, and ^(N)they will run before his chariots. ^12 (O)He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some to ^[d]do his plowing and to gather in his harvest, and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will also take your daughters and use them as perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ^14 (P)He will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. ¹⁵ And he will take a tenth of your seed and your vineyards and give it to his high officials and his servants. ¹⁶ He will also take your male servants and your female servants, and your best young men, and your donkeys, and ^[e]use them for his work. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. ¹⁸ Then ^(Q)you will cry out on that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but ^(R)the Lord will not answer you on that day.”

¹⁹ Yet the people ^(S)refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us, ^20 (T)so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.” ²¹ Now after Samuel had heard all the words of the people, ^(U)he ^[f]repeated them in the Lord’s hearing. ²² And the Lord said to Samuel, “^(V)Listen to their voice and appoint a king for them.” So Samuel said to the men of Israel, “Go, every man to his city.”

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time ^(A)are not worthy to be compared with the ^(B)glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the ^(C)eagerly awaiting creation waits for ^(D)the revealing of the ^(E)sons and daughters of God. ²⁰ For the creation ^(F)was subjected to ^(G)futility, not willingly, but ^(H)because of Him who subjected it, ^[a]in hope ²¹ that ^(I)the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation ^(J)groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. ^23 (K)And not only that, but also we ourselves, having ^(L)the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves ^(M)groan within ourselves, ^(N)waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons and daughters, ^(O)the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For ^(P)in hope we have been saved, but ^(Q)hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? ²⁵ But ^(R)if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.

Our Victory in Christ

²⁶ Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for ^(S)we do not know what to pray for as we should, but ^(T)the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with ^[b]groanings too deep for words; ²⁷ and ^(U)He who searches the hearts knows what ^(V)the mind of the Spirit is, because He ^(W)intercedes for the ^[c]saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ And we know that ^[d]God ^[e]causes ^(X)all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are ^(Y)called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He ^(Z)foreknew, He also ^(AA)predestined to become ^(AB)conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the ^(AC)firstborn among many brothers and sisters; ³⁰ and these whom He ^(AD)predestined, He also ^(AE)called; and these whom He called, He also ^(AF)justified; and these whom He justified, He also ^(AG)glorified.

^31 (AH)What then shall we say to these things? ^(AI)If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who ^(AJ)did not spare His own Son, but ^(AK)delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ³³ Who will bring charges against ^(AL)God’s elect? ^(AM)God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who ^(AN)condemns? Christ Jesus is He who ^(AO)died, but rather, was ^[f](AP)raised, who is ^(AQ)at the right hand of God, who also ^(AR)intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from ^(AS)the love of ^[g]Christ? Will ^(AT)tribulation, or trouble, or ^(AU)persecution, or ^(AV)famine, or ^(AW)nakedness, or ^(AX)danger, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written:

³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly ^(AZ)conquer through ^(BA)Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither ^(BB)death, nor life, nor ^(BC)angels, nor principalities, nor ^(BD)things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from ^(BE)the love of God that is ^(BF)in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Saul’s Search

9 Now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was ^(A)Kish the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, son of a Benjaminite, a ^[a]valiant mighty man. ² He had a son whose name was Saul, a ^(B)young and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome man than he among the sons of Israel; ^(C)from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people.

³ Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.” ⁴ So he passed through ^(D)the hill country of Ephraim and passed through the land of ^(E)Shalishah, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of ^(F)Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they did not find them.

⁵ When they came to the land of ^(G)Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let’s return, ^(H)or else my father will stop being concerned about the donkeys and will become anxious about us.” ⁶ But he said to him, “Behold now, there is ^(I)a man of God in this city, and the man is held in honor; ^(J)everything that he says definitely comes true. Now let’s go there, ^(K)perhaps he can tell us about our journey on which we have set out.” ⁷ Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sacks and there is ^(L)no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” ⁸ The servant answered Saul again and said, “Look, I have in my hand a fourth of a shekel of silver; I will give it to the man of God and he will ^(M)tell us our way.” ⁹ (Previously in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he used to say, “Come, and let’s go to the seer”; for he who is called a prophet now was previously called ^(N)a seer.) ¹⁰ Then Saul said to his servant, “^[b]Good idea; come, let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.

¹¹ As they went up the slope to the city, ^(O)they found young women going out to draw water, and they said to them, “Is the seer here?” ¹² They answered them and said, “He is; ^[c]see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, because ^(P)the people have a sacrifice on ^(Q)the high place today. ¹³ As soon as you enter the city you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat, for the people will not eat until he comes, because ^(R)he must bless the sacrifice; afterward those who are invited will eat. Now then, go up, for you will find him about this time.” ¹⁴ So they went up to the city. As they came into the city, behold, Samuel was coming out toward them to go up to the high place.

God’s Choice for King

¹⁵ Now a day before Saul’s coming, ^(S)the Lord had ^[d]revealed this to Samuel, saying, ¹⁶ “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and ^(T)you shall anoint him as ruler over My people Israel; and he will save My people from the hand of the Philistines. For ^(U)I have considered My people, because their outcry has come to Me.” ¹⁷ When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord ^[e]said to him, “^(V)Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.” ¹⁸ Then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” ¹⁹ And Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you everything that is on your mind. ^20 (W)And as for your donkeys that wandered off three days ago, do not be concerned about them, for they have been found. And ^(X)for whom is everything that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” ²¹ Saul replied, “^(Y)Am I not a Benjaminite, of ^(Z)the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the ^[f]tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?”

²² Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. ²³ And Samuel said to the cook, “^[g]Serve the portion that I gave you about which I said to you, ‘Set it ^[h]aside.’” ²⁴ Then the cook ^(AA)took up the leg with what was on it and placed it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Place it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, ^[i]since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

²⁵ When they came down from the high place into the city, ^[j]Samuel spoke with Saul ^(AB)on the roof.

The Temptation of Jesus

4 ^(A)Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, ^(B)returned from the Jordan and was led around ^[a]by the Spirit in the wilderness ² for ^(C)forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry. ³ And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” ⁴ And Jesus answered him, “It is written: ‘^(D)Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

^5 (E)And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of ^[b](F)the world in a moment of time. ⁶ And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and ^[c]its glory, ^(G)for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I want. ⁷ Therefore if You ^[d]worship before me, it shall all be Yours.” ⁸ Jesus replied to him, “It is written: ‘^(H)You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

^9 (I)And he brought Him into Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here; ¹⁰ for it is written:

¹¹ and,

¹² And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been stated, ‘^(L)You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

¹³ And so when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Jesus’ Public Ministry

¹⁴ And ^(M)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and ^(N)news about Him spread through all the surrounding region. ¹⁵ And He began ^(O)teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

¹⁶ And He came to ^(P)Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, ^(Q)He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and ^(R)stood up to read. ¹⁷ And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:

²⁰ And He ^(U)rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and ^(V)sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him. ²¹ Now He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your ^[e]hearing.” ²² And all the people were ^[f]speaking well of Him, and admiring the ^[g]gracious words which were coming from His ^[h]lips; and yet they were saying, “^(W)Is this not Joseph’s son?” ²³ And He said to them, “No doubt you will ^[i]quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! All the miracles that we heard were done ^(X)in Capernaum, do here in ^(Y)your hometown as well.’” ²⁴ But He said, “Truly I say to you, ^(Z)no prophet is welcome in his hometown. ²⁵ But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel ^(AA)in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a ^[j]severe famine came over all the land; ²⁶ and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to ^[k](AB)Zarephath, in the land of ^(AC)Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. ²⁷ And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was ^[l]cleansed, but only ^(AD)Naaman the Syrian.” ²⁸ And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; ²⁹ and they got up and ^(AE)drove Him out of the city, and brought Him to the ^[m]crest of the hill on which their city had been built, so that they could throw Him down from the cliff. ³⁰ But He ^(AF)passed through their midst and went on His way.